Recently, my girls and I were part of an experiment organised by beloved British brand Pears Soap that identified a 'Golden Moments' scale. Along with some friendly boffins, Pears Soap, which is celebrating its 225th anniversary this year, set out to find out a quick-fix formula to help mums over 'Blue Mum-Day' - which statisticians have identified as the most stressful day of the year for mums when shorter days, half-term childcare issues and ongoing payment of the debts racked up in the summer holidays really hit home. You may know it as today!
Watch the video - and see if you can spot me in my fetching 'electrode headband'!
By wiring us guinea mums up to technology that could measure brain activity and physiological responses, the fist-of-its-kind experiment actually proved that 'we time' - activities undertaken with and alongside your offspring - was far more emotionally rewarding than 'me time'. In fact while a hug from their child tops the Golden Moments scale, checking social media scored the lowest and along with online shopping, actually left mums feeling drained rather than relaxed. Other moments with the feel-good factor included giving a child a small gift, decorating a fairy cake together and reading a story. Even everyday tasks such as helping a youngster wash their hands failed to score negatively. Put simply, 'me time' can't make a mum happy in the way 'we time' with her kiddies can. Those electrodes don't lie!
And the happiness doesn't stop there! Pears Soap is now running a Facebook competition with prizes including holidays and days out on offer. Readers of AHappyHealthyMummy.com also have a chance of winning Pears goodies and a £50 John Lewis voucher too. All you need to do is submit a favourite mum moment (everyday moments that make you feel good) in the comment box below - and you'll be automatically entered for both competitions. The closing date is November 26th.
Add your comment below - you could win weekly prizes from Pears Soap, a holiday or a John Lewis Voucher and a hamper.
Watching my boys play together has to be one of the best feel good moments :-)
ReplyDeleteSuch a great competition. We feature in the video too. Lovely campaign isn't it. Liska xx
ReplyDeleteI knew I recognised you!
Delete:-) x
Deletewatching my daughter grow, smile
ReplyDeleteEarly morning cuddles in bed
ReplyDeleteSeeing my 3 boys playing together nicely, with A being the oldest showing the younger two how to play. Priceless xx
ReplyDeleteEvery day before school, my 5ft 10in 17 year old son sits on the sofa with me and gives me a big hug. He has been doing this since he was little and still does it now. He maybe all grown up but he's still my little boy :)
ReplyDeletespending every waking moment with the kids
ReplyDeleteGrace and I love a good girly shopping spree. We had a lovely Saturday last weekend when we went shopping, had lunch, went to the cinema and then went out for dinner. But my most favourite time is the evenings when we sit together and snuggle and she calls me Mama and I call her Bubba. Even at the age of 7 she is my best friend :)
ReplyDeleteWhen my children go to bed at night, they always without fail kiss and cuddle me and my daughter has a set of words that she wrote and has memorised and says however tired she is about how much she loves me and wishes me a good nights sleep - so sweet!
ReplyDeleteI like first thing in the morning. They are always so happy to see each other and me! Best time of the day - even if it is a little hectic lol.
ReplyDeleteOur bedtime routine is my favourite time. We've always spent an hour before bed reading, doing puzzles, singing or some other activity together in my room. We pile on the bed and wind down after what has always been a demanding day!
ReplyDeleteFinding out that your little girl, who is still a baby in my eyes, is about to become a mummy herself - indescribable!
ReplyDeletegoing to the local swimming pool with my young ones to learn them how to swim and seeing their joy at what they can do and how enjoyable it is!
ReplyDeletedorothy cavender
It has to be a cuddle at bedtime, when they are all sleepy and there is no interference from TV's etc. That's the time to have a cuddle and a chat.
ReplyDeletewatching my little girl laugh is amazing
ReplyDeleteWhen my son says something unexpectedly grown-up & I can hear my own phrases in it!
ReplyDeletewhen we laugh together!
ReplyDeleteJanine - you're the lucky winner! Please email me at vanessajanethewriter@gmail.com with your details - and Pears will send you your prize direct! Love your blog by the way - are you the only pen blogger?
DeleteThankyou so much! Im chuffed to bits :)
DeleteIm the only pen blogger in my house. The rest of the family don't find them very interesting! There are many more amazing pen bloggers out there thoough!
Details on their way :) How exciting!
Pens are sexy, how can anyone NOT see that?
DeleteThat's a really interesting piece of research - As someone who is forever desperate for a bit of me time - this has opened my eyes to really enjoying the 'we' time too.
ReplyDeleteMy special moment has to be when I watched the Red Arrows with my daughter and she love it so much, she kept hugging me saying 'love it!' 'love red arrows' 'love you mummy'. She doesn't often say 'i love you' so that was really very special.
seeing them laugh
ReplyDeleteI love it when they eat their dinner without moaning and actually say they enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteReading bedtime stories
ReplyDeleteAll I need is a smile from my son and it makes my day.
ReplyDeletemy favourite time is taking the children and dog to the beach and watching them run around and play together.
ReplyDeleteWhen I get a cuddle from my son for no reason simply for being his mum.
ReplyDeleteWhen my 3 year old wakes up, he rushes in to my room to tell me his dreams. They usually involve me hugging him, and food.
ReplyDeleteNow that our 3rd baby is here (she's 9 weeks) I absolutely love seeing how excited the older two are to see her each and every morning.
ReplyDeleteChecking on my children before I turn in for the night. Somehow the sight of them asleep - looking innocent and beautiful - always makes me glow with love for them. Any stress from the day washes away and I thank my lucky stars that I have two gorgeous kids to look after.
ReplyDeleteA cuddle at bedtime!
ReplyDeleteKissing my girls on the forehead
ReplyDeleteWhilst snuggling them into bed
Saying goodnight
Before turning off their lights..
Waiting for 'I love you too mummy'
Before I lay in bed looking at the stretch marks on my tummy!
x
bathtime routine is my fave bath then milk and story before bed and a cuddle
ReplyDeleteThe bit where me and the little one pick up the big one from school and they are both talking at once and so excited to see each other!
ReplyDeleteMy favourite mum moment is when walking home from school and they tell me about their day
ReplyDeletemy fave mum moment is when i go in to check on the kids before i go to bed and give them a kiss on the forehead, sometimes my youngest grabs me around the neck fopr a big sleep hug, but sometimes she just gives me a big grin with her eyes closed and says i love you mummy. it sends me to sleep with a smile
ReplyDeleteSnuggles in the morning before we get up for school/work.
ReplyDeleteI love those moments when my daughter just comes up to me out of the blue and gives me a huge hug and a kiss and tells me I am the best Mummy ever. She is 8 now so these moments mean sooooo much!
ReplyDeleteMy favourite mum moment is when we are doing crafts or baking. They are 12 and 8 now and its just nice to spend time with them and see them happy
ReplyDeleteThat first smile in the morning when they see you.
ReplyDeleteBest mum moments are when the kids aren't aware you are watching them.
ReplyDeleteearling morning cuddles when they jump in bed.
ReplyDeleteI love the questions my boys come up with me as we walk to school - why, why, why they ask. We have such a giggle together and I love having to come up with the answers
ReplyDeleteBeing privileged enough to watch my daughter grow and develop every day :) soppy I know!!
ReplyDeleteWATCHING MY KIDS PLAY TOGETHER IN THE GARDEN IS AMAZING
ReplyDeleteHaving my grown up children enjoying being together again
ReplyDeletewatching my little girl playing with our big dog - they so love each other!
ReplyDeletemy fave mum moment was waking up at 5 am with a litter of day old pups and my 3 yr old daughter sitting in the puppy pen looking after them x
ReplyDeleteReading bedtime stories together :) xx
ReplyDeleteMy favourite mum moments were receiving pictures and cards created by my daughter, especially those in which she wrote lovely messages. They were wonderful to receive at the time and, now that she is older, they still make wonderful reading.
ReplyDeleteMy favourite mum moment is when my 9 year just randomly says "I love you". Makes me feel all warm.
ReplyDeleteWhen you take a mental picture of your kids just being themselves
ReplyDeleteI love walking my daughter to playgroup in the mornings. We have a good chat and say hello to everybody!
ReplyDeleteSeeing my kids smile but especially winning battles against the professionals to get my Autistic son the help he needs!!
ReplyDeleteMy daughter is Autistic so I can understand how you are feeling - yes we do get help but its almost a full-time job to battle with all the paperwork and telephone calls needed. My favourite time is the bed-time routine as that's the only time I get a hug - but that makes my whole day worthwhile.
ReplyDeleteSnuggles on the sofa with a book makes everything seem alright
ReplyDeleteA lovely moment yesterday from my son who is away to Thailand for 3 months and before he left he gave me a beautiful Christmas card and said he loved me lots :)
ReplyDeletethe moments when one or more of my children want a cuddle just because, and not because they want something, or are upset. <3 <3
ReplyDeleteTHIS COMP IS NOW CLOSED - THANKS FOR ALL THE ENTRIES! A winner will be randomly picked & announced soon.
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